Signalling device for dishwashers and the like



Feb. 5, 1957 F. D. Low 2,780,198

SIGNALLING DEVICE FOR DISHWASHERS AND THE ALIKE ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1957 F. D. LW 2,780,198

SIGNALLING DEVICE FOR DISI-IWASHERS AND THE LIKE] Filed Deo. 24, 1954 2 Sheecs-Shee.:l 2

ATTORNEY FRA/VK .LOW

United States Patent O "ice SIGNALLING Dayton` 'Fon DI's'HwAsHERs AND THE'LIKE Frank D; LoW,-La Grange Park, Ill., assigner to General Electric. Company,1a corporation of New York Application December" 24, 1954, Serial No. 477,550

6 Claims.' (Cl. 1164-114) This invention relates to signalling devices and in particular to a vsignalling device which will indicate that apparatus such as an automaticl dishwasher has been placed in operation.

It frequently Vhappens that a dishwasher is loaded with articles to be washed and placed in operating condition, but for some reason or other, the machine is not actually started. I f one returns to the kitchen one or two hours later and had forgotten whether or not the machine had been sarted, there is no way of telling, without actually opening the` dishwasher door andobserving the condition of the dishes, that the dishwasher had or had not operated. Some dishwashers are equipped with a pilot light which lights during the operation of the dishwasher; but the light extinguishes with the"terrnination of theoperating cycle, and an extinguished pilot light is'obviously no indication that the machine had been operated.

It is therefore an object ofthis invention to provide a signalling device which will positively indicate whether or not the dishwasher had been operated.

It is another object of` this invention to provide a signalling device which, when once it signals the cornmencement' of operation of the dishwasher, will 'remain inthe operation-signalling position until the dishwasher door is opened for"the"removal of dishes or other pur-V poses.

It is a .further object of the invention to provide a mechanical signalling device which after it has operated will be automatically reset for future operation as the dishwasher cabinet door is opened and then closed following the dishwashing operation.

The above objectives may advantageously be accomplished in a dishwasher having a cabinet ydoor hinged for operation between asubstantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, by mounting within the door a momentary contact start switch having associated'therewith a signal device releasably latched in one position by means associated with an externally accessible pushbutton which operates the start switch. When the button is pressed to start operation of the machine, the signal device is released, dropping by gravity to a second position, in which suitable indicia appears behind a window in the door and thereby signiiies that the machine has been started. The signal device remainsv in said second position until the dishwasher door is opened to remove the dishes therefrom'or for any other purpose, whereupon the device automatically returns to its latched position, ready to signal the next operation of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings showing presently preferred embodiments of the invention:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a typical dishwasher to 'which the invention has been applied, certain portions of the apparatus having been broken away to reveal otherwise concealed structures;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the dishwasher taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryV sectional elevation based on 2,780,198 Patented Feb. 5, 1957 .2 n Fig. 2 showing the release of the signalling device upon inward movement of the starting button;

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary sectional elevation showing the return ofthe signalling device toward its latched position when the dishwasher door is in its open position;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective of the signalling device of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a second forr'n of signalling device; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Fig. l shows somewhat schematically a front elevational view of a conventional Vdishwasher to which the invention has been applied.` The dishwasher 1 includes an outer cabinet 2 within which is mounted a washing vat 3 having formed in the yside walls thereof a suitable plurality of embossed rails 4. -Said rails yremovably support a rack 5 which, as is well known in the art, has provisions for supporting in a suitably arranged pattern the plurality of dishes and other 'articles (not shown) whichfare to be washed. The said rack is equipped with a plurality of sideV rollers 6 and a front roller 7. The door `8 is suitably bottom-hinged for rotation between anormally vertical closed position and a normally horizontal open 'position Said door has an upper hollow portion of substantial volume, and is arranged to seat irrily against agasket 9 secured about the marginal wall 10 ernng thev front opening f the vat 3. A snitable hollow cover 11\`oi:` the cabinet may be secured to the top wall of Vthe vat- 3.

lThe"dishwasher "vatdcludes a sump 12 within which is`"rnounted for 'rotation' an'iinpeller 13 arranged to be driven by theiqmotorl I4 sitabl'y`inounted in the machinery compartment 15 belwt'he'washin'g vat. The dishwasher impellermay be such as disclosed in the Koertge U. S. Patent 2422022, dated'llune l0, 1947. When the impeller i's being operated by the motor, it forcefully circiilateswater throughout the tub to accomplish the cleansing of Vthe articles therein and also elfects the circulation of air within' the tubV during a subsequent drying stage.

Alsosupported withinthe tub so as to encompass the irrpell'er is a heating element 16 of the conventional sheathed resistance conductor type. A guard screen 17 disposed about the impeller serves to control the flow of water 'to the impeller and also to 'screen out food particles which have been washed from the dishes and hence prevent their redeposition on the dishes. Heated water is supplied 'from a conventional source (not shown) through an inlet'tube 18 to a valve 19 of the conventional solenoid operated type. From said valve the heated water passes through a conduit 20 to an inlet fitting (not shown) atj the top of the vat 3. It VwillV be understood that suitabledrain valve rneans (not shown) are provided for controlling the drainage of liquid from the dishwasher vat. A suitabledrain valve mechanism is shown in Stoddard U. S. Patent 2,652,854, granted September 22, 1953, for Drain Control Mechanism for Washing Apparatus and assigned to my present assignee. It`will be obvious that the foregoing is' merely by way of description of a conventional dishwasher, and that my invention is in no way limited to such a dishwasher.

When the apparatus is to'be loaded with dishes and the like to be washed, the door 8 is swung downwardly into its horizontal open position and the racks 5 drawn outwardly from the vat. The loaded rack is lthereupon returned to the vat, the door closed, and as presently explained, a time-cycleapparatus is energized to cause the dishwasher to operate through a predetermined cycle of washing, rinsing, and drying steps. The time-cycle apparatus may be'of any known type; for example, of the general type disclosed in Illian U. S. Patent 2,624,352, granted January '6, 1953, for Control Circuits for' Dish- Washing Apparatus"l and assigned vto my present assignee.

As schematically shown in Fig. 7, such time-cycle control or timer, as it is generally known, comprises an organization 21 in which a motor 22 is arranged to drive through suitable reduction gearing 23 and a friction clutch 24, a shaft 25 on which is mounted a pair of cams 26 and 27 which are congurated to operate suitable control switches (not shown) during rotation of said cams. By means of gearing 28, `the motor 22 also rotatably drives a shaft 29 on which is mounted a second pair of control cams 30 and 31 which also serve to operate control switches (not lshown). On the end of shaft 29, there is mounted a setting knob 32 which, as shown in Fig. 1, may advantageously be located at a lower corner of the dishwasher cabinet 2. A5 best explained in the said lllian Patent 2,624,352, -a rotation of knob 32 clockwise of Fig. 7 through an :arc of about ten degrees causes one of the cams to close an associated switch, whereby Ithe timer motor 22 begins operation to rotate the cams 26, 27, 30, and 31, whereby the motor 14, inlet valve 19 and the drain mechanism of the dishwasher are operated in a predetermined sequence which comprises vthe operational cycle of the machine.

In the present invention, means are provided automatically Ito rotate the knob 32 from its "off to its on position. Such means may comprise a ratchet 33 affixed to shaft 29 within the machinery compartment 15 of the cabinet '2 and a pawl 34 operatively associated with said ratchet and :arranged -to be driven by a solenoid 35 ysuitably xed within said compartment. When the solenoid is energized, it draws the pawl to the right of Fig. 7 and thereby causes the shaft 29 to rotate through the angle necessary to cause one of the timer cams to close the switch (not shown) in the energizing circuit for the timer motor 22. It will be understood that suitable spring means (not shown) returns the pawl for a subsequent engagement of the ratchet 33 when the solenoid 35 is deenergized.

The energizing circuit for solenoid 3S includes a normally open momentary contact switch 36 mounted on an inn-er panel 37 of the cabinet ydoor 8 and connected by lead wires 38, 39 `in series relationship in a suitable 115 volt electric power circuit. Switch 36 is arranged to be momentarily closed by the inward movement and release of a start button 40 mounted at a convenient upper portion of the dishwasher door.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the button 40 is guided for movement by suitable means, such as guide sleeves 41 and l42 respectively arranged on the outer and inner faces of the front panel 43 of dishwasher door 8. Advantageously, the button 40 has a guide slot 40.1 with which cooperates a tongue 44 struck downwardly from 'the guide sleeve 42 to secure said button against rotation. The button is normally biased for movement to `the lleft of Fig. 2 by a suitable -spring 45 confined between the inner panel wa'll 37 of the dishwasher door and a suitable socket 46 formed in the base of the button. It will be apparent that a shoulder 47 at the rear of the button limits the said leftward movement thereof.

As best shown in Fig. 5, there is aixed to the rear of 'the pushbutton a lmember 48 having `a rigid downwardly extending leg 50 which is disposed in operative relationship with the pushbutton 36.1 of the momentary contact switch 36. It will be apparent .therefore that as the button `40 is pushed to the right of Fig. 2, the leg 50 will engage the switch actua-ting button 36.1 and move it to a position in which the normally open contact elements (not shown) of said switch are moved to closed circuit position, thus energizing the solenoid coil 35 to institute operation of the timing apparatus as above set forth.

The leftward movement of the button 40 also operates lto release the signalling device in order to indicate that the dishwasher has been placed in operation. It will be noted from Figs. l and 2 that suitably below the button 40, the front panel 43 of the hollow dishwasher door is provided with a window 51. Suitably mounted on the inner dishwasher door panel 37 there is a pivot bracket 52 which is advantageously of channel formation, as best shown in Fig. 5. The side flanges of said channel pivotally mount the signalling device 53, as by receiving therebetween the hub 54 and side wall portion 55 of the signalling device. The pivot pin 56 may be headed or otherwise deformed after the assembly of the signalling devise and its pivotal mounting, to maintain the parts in the assembled condition. The pivot bracket 52 may advantageously have the upper and lower inwardly directed fingers 57 and 58 to provide stop means for limiting the angular displacement of the signalling device 53.

A forwardly projecting portion 60 of the leg 50 has spaced hinge loops 61 between which is received the looped end 62 of a llatch finger 63. When the looped portion 62 is placed between the hinged loops 61 of member 48, a hinge pin 64 is inserted to provide the pivotal mounting for said latch linger. As best shown in Fig. 2, Ia tongue 65 extends forwardly of the portion 60 beneath the arm 63 so that said arm is supported in the plane of the portion 60 and yet may be rotated clockwise of Fig. 2. The arcuate front porti-on 66 of the signalling device 53 has struck inwardly therefrom a finger 67 which engages with the end of the latch arm 63, under conditions of operation later described, to hold the signalling device in a raised position. As best appears in Fig. 5, an upper area of the `signal portion 66 may be colored to contrast with the color of the lower area thereof. When the signalling device is in its Fig. 2 position, lthe upper colored portion is concealed behind the solid front wall panel of the dishwasher door, whereas the lower portion-which may have a white finish to correspond to the usual white finish of the dishwasher dooris visible behind the window 51.

Now it will be apparent that when button 40 is depressed vto commence the operation of the dishwasher, the latch Iarm 63 will withdraw from the linger 67, whereupon the signalling device will drop by gravity to the position indicated in Fig. 3; and in said position, the upper brightly colored portion of the indicator will appear behind the window This will be a clear indication that the dishwasher has been started; and because there is no way to return the signalling device to its Fig. 2 position so long as the dishwasher door remains closed, the device will always show that the dishwasher had been operated.

In order to restore the signalling device to its latched position to be ready for a succeeding dishwasher operation, it is necessary for the user to move the door to its horizontal open position. This of course is required in any event in order to withdraw the rack 5 from the dishwasher vat for the removal of the clean dishes therefrom. When the door approaches its horizontal position, the indicator will by gravity rotate in a direction clockwise of Fig. 4, and as it does so the finger 67 will engage the latch arm 63 and brush by it, for as, is evident in Fig. 4, the latch arm is free to rotate in a clockwise direction. When the finger clears the latch arm, said arm will of course fall by gravity against the support member 65. When the dishwasher door is eventually swung up to its closed position, the latch arm and latch iinger will again be in the Fig. 2 position and the signalling device ready for the next operation. The upper limiting linger 57 of the pivot bracket 52 prevents an overswing of the signalling device and of course the lower stop member 5S is used for a similar purpose.

In the embodiment of Fig. 6 the member 70 is a counterpart of the member 48 of Fig. 5. Said member, instead of having a hinged latch arm 63 is equipped with a small fixed magnet 71; and the signalling device 72 is provided with a bracket 73 on which is also mounted a small magnet 74. It should be understood of course that if the bracket 73 is made of magnetic material, the magnet 74 may be eliminated therefrom. In the Fig. 6

position, the mutual attraction of the magnetic materials maintains the signalling device in a position in which only the white lower portion of the signalling device appears behind the window 51; When the button 40 is pressed however, the magnetic elements are mechanically separated, whereupon the signalling device 72 drops and presents its brightly colored upper portion behind the window to indicate that the machine has been placed in operation. When the dishwasher door is lowered, the signalling device will swing until the respective magnets 71, 74 are in adjacency, whereby the signalling device will be reset for the next operation and will remain in reset position as the door is raised and closed.

In recognition of the fact that some types of dishwashers are equipped with timer mechanisms arranged only for manual operation, the embodiment of Fig. 6 is shown as being independent of the dishwasher timer mechanism. In such arrangement, the user would manually operate the timer as required, and then press the button 40 to release the signalling device.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that Various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Washing apparatus having a washing vat and a door for said vat operable between a vertical and a horizontal position incidental to the normal usage of said apparatus, a signalling device carried by said door, including an indicator pivotally mounted on said door and arranged to have, when said door is vertical, a rst position disclosinng a tirst message and a second position disclosing a second message, the center of gravity of said indicator being such relative to its pivot point that when said door is vertical said indicator is gravity biased to swing to its second position and when the door is horizontal said indicator will resume its iirst position, means for releasably holding said indicator in its rst position when said door is vertical, means disposed externally of said door for operation of said holding means to release said indicator, and means for restoring said holding means to indicator-holding position, whereby said indicator may be released to move from its irst to its second position when the door is vertical and may be retained in its said first position when said indicator resumes said position upon movement of the door to horizontal position, thus permitting return of the door to its vertical position with the indicator maintaining its said first position.

2. Washing apparatus according to claim 1, in which said indicator is pivotally mounted within said apparatus door and is gravity biased to assume its said second position when said apparatus door is in its said vertical position and to assume its said first position when said apparatus door is in its horizontal position.

3. Washing apparatus including a door operable between a first position and a second position incidental to the normal use of said apparatus, a signalling device carried by said door and including an indicator pivotally mounted within said door and operable to a first indicator position disclosing a iirst message and to a second indicator position disclosing a second message, said indicator being gravity biased to assume said second position when said door is in the rst of its two said positions and to assume its said rst position when the door is in the second of its said two positions, latch means disposed within said door and having a pivoted latching arm in operative relationship with said indicator to releasably engage said indicator to hold the same in its iirst said position when said door is in said irst position, and manually operable means for disengagement of said latch means from said indicator to permit said indicator to assume its said second position, said latch means returning to its normal latching position upon release of said latch disengagement means, said latch means arm yielding to passage of said indicator from its second to its iirst named positions by displacement of said indicator by gravity during movement of said door to its second position for re-engagement of said arm and said indicator in the rst-named operative relationship.

4. Washing apparatus according to claim 3, in which said indicator includes a iinger extending therefrom into operational relationship with said latching arm at the free end of said arm.

5. Washing apparatus according to claim 3 which said latch disengagement means includes a pushbutton manually operable for axial movement and said latch means is axed to said pushbutton for movement therewith.

6. Washing apparatus having a washing vat and a door for said vat operable between a vertical and a horizontal position incidental to the normal use of said apparatus, a signalling device carried by said door, including an indicator pivotally mounted within said door and arranged to have, when said door is vertical, a irst position disclosing a first message and a second position disclosing a second message, said indicator being gravity biased to assume said second position when the door is vertical and to assume said lirst position when the door is horizontal, means for maintaining said indicator releasably in said tirst position, including a magnet displaceably mounted within said door and a magnetic element mounted on said indicator, means for releasably positioning said magnet in a rst position for maximum attraction thereto of said magnetic element to maintain said indicator in its first position, means operable when said door is in vertical position for withdrawing said magnet to a second position releasing said magnetic element and thereby permitting said indicator to assume its second position, and means for restoring said magnet to its rst-named position, whereby upon movement of said door to horizontal position said indicator will return to its first named position and again be held in said position by magnetic attraction.

No references cited. 

